Terminal head for electrical conductors



N 6 Patented Apr. 25, I899. C. SEWALL 8|, H. E. PRDCUNIER. TERMINAL HEAD FDR ELECTRICAL CUNDUCTOBS.

(Application flled sept. 29, 1897.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES II. SEW'ALL, OF CHICAGO, AND HENRY E. PROCUNIER, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

TERMINAL HEAD FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,570, dated April 25, 1899.

Application filed September 29, 1897. Serial No. 653,535. (No model.)

1'0 LZZ whom, it may concern:-

Be it known that we, CHARLES H. SEWALL, residing at Chicago, and HENRY E. PROCU- NIER, residing at Oak Park, in the county of 5 Cook and State of Illinois, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Terminal Heads for Electric Conductors, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates more especially to that class of terminal heads which consist of boxes into which conductors either singly or in groups are brought for protection against moisture, and we add to such protectionsafe- [5 guards against lightning or abnormal arti- .Iicial currents.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a section of the shell of the box and in perspective a tube of insulating material, said tube being titted with connectors, fuseholder, fuse, and lightning-arrester. Fig. 2 is a side view of the fuse-holder (and fuse) detached from the connectors.

Letters designate different parts of the de- 2 5 vices shown in the drawings, the same letters being used to indicate the same parts in both ligures.

M is a wire affixed to the connector 13 by fastoning-screw A. O O are pieces of metal tipping the ends of insulating fuse-holder D.

G is a connector electrically in contact with rod II by pin g. a

Q isa wire to ground, brought near but not 5 quite touching connector G.

K is an insulating-tube surrounding rod H and extending through shell L of a protectingbox.

n is a slot in rod II, into which is inserted 4o conductor P of the group inside the box.

fis a strip or wire of fusible metal, laid from O to O in a zigzag path around the ends and the notches d e (Z c d.

In a previous application, Serial No. 603,625, .5 we have shown an organization with devices similar to the subjectsmatter herein described, but whose order of circuit arrangement is reversed. In the first organization the current entering from conductor M is car- 5o ried first across a connector corresponding to G, passes near lightning-arrester Q, then through an insulated coiled wire, which acts as a retarding-coil against lightning, then along the fuse, and finally enters byway of rod II the protected group of conductors within the box.

cation Serial No. 603, 625 has been found espe- The arrangement shown in applicially effective in telephone systems as a preventive of too great-a destruction of fuses and consequent interruption of service. \Vhen so arranged, the current from a trolley-wire, for instance, may melt together the two pieces of metal at points of approach to connector and ground branch, thus making permanent earth contact and throwing into the leadingin wires acu rrent of considerable quantity. If the leading-in wires be of very limited crosssection, as intelephone systems, they will become heated, but will quicklydisrupt without endangering surroundings; but ifthe lead-' ing-in Wires be large, as in electric-light systems, the development of heat will continue until the temperature is dangerously high. We have therefore in the present combina tion reversed the arrangement of the parts from that shown in application Serial No. 603,625and also devised a new form of fuse holder to suit the changed conditions. Referring to Fig. l, a foreign current will flow from wire M to fastening A on connector B, which is insulated from rod H by bushing K.

It will then pass along the fusefto connector G, with which electrical contact is made with rod H by pin g. Thence it goes by rod II and slot 92 to conductor I. it will be seen that the path traversed by the fuse is lengthened without increasing the straight-line distance between connectors B andG'and that the relative vertical proportions of fuse f and the corrugations of the fuse-holder are such that a delicate piece of metal will not be injured by the handling of its support. The holder D is of insulating material. (7e are at present usinghard rubber.) The danger of arcing from the pas- 95 sage of a current of high voltage across its support is prevented in fuse'holder D by creating a zigzag path for the fuse-wire, which an arc will not follow.

\Vhile we have described more or less pre- 10o Referring to Fig. 2, 85 p cise forms and details of construction, We do not intend to be understood as limiting ourselves thereto.

\Ve claiin 1. A stem of conducting material forming part of an electric circuit projecting from the outside surface of a base or holder and surrounded by a non-conducting bushing; a metallic connector mounted on the bushing near the outer end of said stem; another metallic connector mounted upon the bushing near ihe base or holder and electrically connected with the stem; means for interposing another part of an electric circuit to complete upon one side of the base or holder the circuit beiween stem and connector.

2. A strip or wire of fusible material; corrugated insulating material having alternate depressions on its edges adapted to support CHARLES H. SEWALL. HENRY E. PROCUNIER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAu O. CONANT, HENRY BEs'rMAx. 

